Celebrating 25 years of female cadet graduates
On January 30, The Citadel hosted a panel discussion moderated by Provost Sally Selden, Ph.D. to commemorate 25 years of female cadet graduates. Participants included Mary Thorton, Laura Curran, Bailey Richardson and Cadet Tiziana Ortega. The panelists discussed the various challenges they faced as female cadets and the unique ways their experiences have prepared them to serve as leaders and take on other challenges in their lives.
Lt. Col. Mary Thorton commissioned as an air defense artillery officer in the United States Army upon her graduation in 2005. In her current assignment, she serves as the staff director for the chief of air defense artillery in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Her extensive military background includes deployments to South Korea, Afghanistan and Germany. She has been awarded numerous honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the NATO Medal.
Laura Curran, a 2009 graduate, serves as associate director of admissions and coach of the women’s rugby team. She was the first undergraduate female physical education major and was captain of the women’s soccer team. She led the team to its first conference game win in college history.
Bailey Richardson, a 2020 graduate, was the first female recipient of the Star of the West Scholarship and served as regimental executive officer. She is currently studying medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Tiziana Ortega is a senior cadet studying supply chain management with a minor in Spanish. She serves as the executive officer for Mike Company and is president of both the Supply Chain Club and the Circle of Women on campus. She has received Gold Stars multiple times for academic excellence and has been named to both the Dean’s List and President’s List.
The panel discussion kicked off a semester-long celebration of women graduates. A video of the panel discussion is available online.
